TripAdvisor Reviews Chillout Classic Hostel Istanbul

Travel Blogs from Istanbul

... concept of transfiguration is a struggle for me to grasp, but it is central to the ideology of icons. Until the year 843 there were actual wars fought about the inclusion or exclusion of icons in Orthodox Christianity, but from that time on the issue was decided in favor of inclusion, and they are certainly fully present now.

The use of relics in today’s world may seem beyond archaic to many contemporary believers, but they remain central here. ...

... walk that far but already, just heading in the opposite direction to the where the main attractions are in the old town here, we came across suburbs where no tourists are to be found. I loved seeing their houses. It was very run-down. Many houses were derelict and several were now in ruin. I took photos. There were chickens in the street, and boys kicking a make-shift soccer ball. It was wonderful to see. It was a mix of poverty and comfortable homes, but the people on the ...

... many blue and green tiles – simpler than the Italian churches – but magnificent. We had to line up a bit but the crowds certainly got worse and worse as the day continued. THERE ARE SO MANY TOURISTS here – many of them locals as they have just come out of Ramadan. We then went to see the TOPKAPI Castle – lovely grounds, ostentatious jewells and so many riches of the Sultans. Perry took us ...

... tea watching the world go by and play the odd game of backgammon. The people are generally very friendly though. The owner of our hotel could not have been more genuine and welcoming, and helped us arrange a couple of tours and a Turkish bath which Alex enjoyed so much he went twice.

There are cats everywhere, and I mean everywhere. Kittens too. We had a little cat family on our hotel roof terrace in Istanbul. We decided to name them Maximus, ...

The next morning it was icy cold outside but we knew we had to see the town. We were staying about a 5 minute walk from the fortress that overlooks the entire town. We were told it would take a couple hours to explore the vast grounds, although, after about an hour a wicked ‘white out’ blizzard came out of nowhere and spoiled our plans. In a matter of minutes it went from sunny with blue ...